What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[hflower]

Hi this is my first post so this is all new to me. I have had 2 bluebelle chickens for 3 yrs, but sadly I lost one to egg peritonitis this week It was a difficult decision but I decided to get 2 more as I did not want the remaining one to be on her own . I bought a Black Rock and a Speckledy. I kept both these separate (in another run, so they could see each other) for 2 days then introduced them properly in the garden today. There has been some aggression from my Bluebelle especially towards the Speckledy, but generally they have tolerated each other. I tried to get them all to roost together in my eglu tonight but the Bluebelle kept fending them off and I was too scared to put them directly in the eglu incase she became very aggressive towards them. I would be grateful for any advice as the new girls are roosting in a rabbit hutch at present which is not ideal. Thank you, Helen.

[Scottie]

Hi there, I'm doing similar introductions - 7 new ones to 4 existing. I think possibly you might be rushing it a bit? I'd let them sleep separately for maybe week to ten days, with supervised "playing" together before trying to put them in together. No doubt someone else with more experience will be along soon. Try not to worry though - a rabbit hutch sounds fine. Mine are in a dog kennel!

[hflower]

Thank you Scottie for your quick reply. I am probably trying to rush things I was just hoping they would magically all get along. I will try to be more patient and let them decide when they are ready.

[torgrosset]

I've just introduced my two pol pullets to my 4 ex-bats and all is going well! They've had a few fall outs and sorting out their new pecking order, which was to be expected, but nothing major as yet!

[Egluntyne]

Some advice here.